This documentary that comes out on February 5th, 2021, centers around the question of whether we are living in a simulation. Filmmaker Rodney Ascher uses testimony, philosophical evidence, and scientific explanations to try and work through the question, and possible answers. Director Ascher is also known for the documentaries “The Nightmare” and “Room 237”.
I am excited to watch this documentary because I have often pondered this question, and I hope I can be convinced one way or the other by the evidence that is provided! The trailer also looked super creepy and thought provoking, so I’ll hopefully be thinking about the simulation we live in for days after the movie.
The first night of the 44th Ann Arbor Folk Fest was spot-on in its delivery of a diverse and eclectic mix of music, even though the event had to transition to an online event for 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic. As a fundraiser for The Ark, a performance venue in Ann Arbor specializing in folk and roots music, the Folk Fest program reflected the range of local, up-and-coming, and well-known artists that perform on The Ark’s stage.
Indeed, I left the evening’s performance with a whole host of new music to add to my regular playlist. While I admit that I have generally gravitated toward familiar, or at least predictable, performances and artists during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Folk Fest, and the vast array of its program, reminded me of the joys of discovering new art and artists, which is something that I found the virtual format does not diminish.
The program lasted a whopping five and a half hours in total (which was unexpectedly long for a virtual concert!), and there is no way that I can pay appropriate tribute to each of the thirteen artists that performed. However, I will offer my thoughts on three of my favorite sets of the night, the music from which I have found myself listening to repeatedly since the Folk Fest: The Accidentals, Gina Chavez, and The War and Treaty. To see the entire lineup from the first night of the Folk Fest, as well as to learn more about each of the artists, visit https://theark.org/folk-festival
While most of the performances were pre-recorded from various locations, The Accidentals, a three-member northern Michigan-based folk band comprised of cello, guitar, drums, and vocals, performed the opening set for the Folk Fest live from The Ark Stage. The first song that they played, “Michigan and Again,” is an ode to the Mitten State that will have Michiganders closely attuned to the lyrics, in addition to captivated by the catchy tune.
“Great state, what state am I in?
Compass roses bloom again
Home of the water, Canada’s daughter
Cradled in a crescent moon grin
Michigan and again and again and again and again
Michigan and again and again and again and again”
-from “Michigan and Again” by The Accidentals
The Accidentals (Sav Buist, Katie Larson, and Michael Dause)
They also performed the entirety of their brand-new EP Time Out. However, the most exciting song of the set was “Wildfire,” which was released as a single the very day of the Folk Fest. In fact, the Folk Fest was the Accidentals first live performance of “Wildfire” with singer-songwriter Kim Richey, who traveled from Tennessee to be at The Ark. In all seriousness, the song’s pared-down orchestration (strings, guitars, and three voices all huddled around a single microphone), seemed like a salve offering relief from the stress of pandemic life.
Gina Chavez
In contrast, the most energetic performance of the expertly programmed night belonged to Latin GRAMMY-nominated singer Gina Chavez. Her pre-recorded performance was taken from a drive-in concert, complete with an impressive outdoor set and car-honking “applause.” Excitingly, because Chavez’s set was recorded, she was able to join the Folk Fest’s chat, which added a sense of connection that I have not always experienced when watching prerecorded virtual performances. On top of that, the music was fantastic, and high-level camerawork allowed audiences to fully enjoy both the sight and the sound of Chavez and her accompanying band (which had an awesome brass section including trombone and trumpet). If you have not listened to Gina Chavez before, you are missing out! Some of the songs that she performed at the Folk Fest included “She Persisted” and “Ella.”
The War and Treaty (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount)
Lastly, The War and Treaty, a husband-wife duo that defies musical categorization by blending influences including rock, soul, and country, was another of my favorites. Their performance, which was a joyful, spirit-lifting, and intimate recording from their home, included songs such as “Jubilee” and “Pretty Moon.” They also performed a tribute to the late singer-songwriter John Prine, to whom the Ann Arbor Folk Fest was dedicated.
When the first night of the Ann Arbor Folk Fest concluded at an impressive 12:30 am, I was left with a full heart and a head overflowing with song lyrics.
Swirling in a digital space, images of performers move in and out of view. Audience members are taken on a curated artistic experience, each work framed by a different striking background. Though unrelated in message, dances are linked in their ability to thrust viewers into a never-before-created world. Vivid colors, stunning silhouettes, clear intention– this is none other than Range of Reaction.
Having premiered on January 29th, audience members across the region watched Range of Reaction unfold on their very own screens. The digital showcase was presented by Arts in Color, a Department of Dance student organization dedicated to committed to promoting leadership and social activism in the arts. The showcase featured five original works, each of which was choreographed, performed, filmed, edited, and produced entirely by University of Michigan dance majors.
Beginning in silence, the work of Leah O’Donnell opens the show with its commentary on different perceptions of femininity. Dancers interact with various props such as a cloth mannequin and a broom, inviting audience members to consider the ways in which women are viewed at the societal level. Juxtaposition of person and prop creates several points in which it is impossible to tell what is human and what is not, thus emphasizing the illusions that O’Donnell says women are expert at creating.
Moving into its next work, Range of Reaction offers a trio choreographed by Chloe Chodorow that combines traditional and contemporary dance aesthetics to create what she calls a ‘contemporary fan dance’. The three dancers weave in and out of one another amidst the vastness of Nichols Arboretum, dancing with the fan as if it was a fourth performer. Continuing at a steady pace, the work has a visceral elegance that leaves audience members enamored from beginning to end.
The following work is a solo choreographed and performed by Cristina Benn. Set in a black box theater, Benn takes viewers on an incredibly expressive journey. She is the only individual in the space, but it is impossible not to feel her presence as she allows her story to unfold through her movement. The music is deeply powerful, but the passionate movement remains the rightful center of attention as Benn commands the space.
The end of the solo brings the beginning of the work of Katey Besser, a small ensemble work focused on the differences between individual and group think. Once again bringing viewers to the Arboretum, Besser’s work features four dancers and their efforts to break away from a collective. Dancers move in and out of different areas of the Arboretum, each of which frames dancers in a differently exciting way.
Bringing the showcase to a close, Rose Janusiak and Alana Packo present a deeply personal exploration of intimacy and interaction in queer friendship. The work is filled with imagery that finds a way to stay in the mind of viewers even hours after the showcase reaches its end. No scene in this dance film is the same, thus providing a complex representation of friendship.
The beauty of Range of Reaction lies in its creation of a world that is somehow both dreamily surreal yet faintly within reach. Meticulously curated, the showcase’s five original works create a varied landscape of differing aesthetics and intentions, ensuring that there is something that virtually any audience member will find enjoyable. This showcase is the quintessential COVID-era art: digital, emotional, and a representation of what can be created when armed with dedication and a vision. Those looking to fall head first into an escape from their current lives should look no further– Range of Reaction will pull viewers into a new universe as soon as they hit ‘play’.
Theatre Nova, while no longer putting on plays for an in-person audience, has been giving online access to live performances each month, garnering a great reception from the Ann Arbor thespian scene. The events feature original, 20-40 minute plays from new playwrights.
January’s play of the month is Whatcha Doin? by Jacquelyn Priskorn. It’s about a former child actor reflecting on their childhood career, and how her being typecast as a goofy loser has affected her throughout her life. It speaks to the effects of being an object of others’ consumption–strangers with no recognition of your own identity apart from a character.
This winter brings another season of performances for your viewing pleasure, beginning Wednesday, January 27 at 8pm via Zoom. The season continues through April. The events are performed live, but are taped and available online as well for the next month.
Find tickets to this individual play ($10) or the whole season ($30) here: bit.ly/TNPOTM1
On Saturday, January 30th at 7pm ET, The Ark will be presenting the second night of the 44th Ann Arbor Folk Fest – at home edition! Besides being a fundraiser for The Ark, “Ann Arbor’s non-profit home for folk, roots, and ethnic music,” the Folk Fest is also a chance to enjoy some great music. Featured performers on Saturday night include Bruce Cockburn, Dar Williams, David Bromberg, Todd Snider, George Winston, Vance Gilbert, Dom Flemons, Matt Andersen, Crys Matthews, Sierra Ferrell, Andrea von Kampen, and the RFD Boys (live from The Ark stage), with Jeff Daniels, MC. The artists are each expected to perform 20-40 minutes sets.
I am excited for this event because it promises to be a chance to enjoy “live” music being streamed real-time, which is the closest thing we can get to a concert while staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, it is just something to look forward to when so many things have been cancelled!
To purchase a streaming pass for the Ann Arbor Folk Festival, visit https://noonchorus.com/the-ark/. Passes begin at $25, and all ticket bundles include a tax-deductible contribution to The Ark.
When the movie began, there was a quick succession of jarring, high intensity events, without much background about the characters or context for them. As the movie progressed, the storyline moved slower and slower, which caused my interest to wane. I liked the movie as a whole, but I would most likely not recommend to a friend, because of the lack of character depth and the slow pace of the movie.
One point I think that is important to discuss about this movie is the lack of character background or profundity. Right away, the main character experiences several tragedies and traumas, and the audience barely knows who she is, so it is hard to know if these are routine, or actually traumatic. We as an audience aren’t given almost any background about what her life usually consists of, which makes these first few events very disorienting. This also made it somewhat difficult to empathize with her struggles at first. I find that this often happens when a movie is adapted from a book, which can have a much richer expansion of details and exposition, as well as elaboration on thoughts of the characters. This was especially tough because the main character was meant to be mostly quiet and broody, so I feel like the movie audience missed out on a lot of her personality and feelings about what was going on in her journey.
Something I loved about the movie was that the characters were all so different and interesting people. As the main character travels along the river and beyond, she comes across people with such rich and unique lives. However, I felt like the movie lacked woefully in giving them their full background and history that would have really improved the movie. However, what I did learn about the people she met was so intriguing, especially because I felt like I was getting a glimpse into a world that I have never experienced or even brushed up against. I found it especially interesting to see the characters in the movie because it was set in rural upper Michigan.
This movie was certainly unique, but the underdeveloped characters and lack of excitement made it less enjoyable than it could have been. I think that the book was probably very enjoyable and interesting, but the adaptation into a movie did not exactly do the story justice. While I was definitely fascinated by the storyline and characters, I would not choose to watch this movie again or recommend it to others.
